Room for One's Own Work

The transformation of the loft — an 1,800-square-foot space on the second floor of a five-story former warehouse built in 1902 — has been a collaboration involving not only the two women but also Mr. Azari, Ms. Neshat’s partner and artistic collaborator. An Iranian filmmaker and actor, he shares writing and directing credits with her on some films, including their first feature, “Women Without Men.” The movie, nearly completed, is based on the Iranian author Shahrnush Parsipur’s book about women and gender relations in Iran.

As with many artistic partners, Ms. Neshat, 51, and Mr. Azari, 50, don’t always see eye to eye. “We fight a lot,” Ms. Neshat said with a laugh. “When it comes to making films, he’s logical, and I tend to another way: I am more fragmented.”

The differences don’t stop at home: the sleek design is more her taste, while he prefers a rustic ambience, with rugs, for instance, in every room. But, he admitted, “I gave up on rugs.” So only the media area and bedrooms have them, while the rest of the floors are bare.